Remover for bottle closures



June 27, 1939. K. KNUDSEN REMOVER FOR BOTTLE CLOSURES Filed July 15, 1936 Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOVER FOR BOTTLE CLOSURES Connecticut Application July 15, 1936, Serial No. 90,651

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a device or implement for removing closures such as bottle closures like corks, stoppers, caps, and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, compact and eflicient device of the above-mentioned character that will be well adapted to meet the varying conditions of hard practical use. Another object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned nature which will be convenient to carry and of easy and simple manipulation and rearrangement to meet such varying conditions of practical use, as, for example, the need to remove a crimped metal cap from a bottle or the need to pull a cork. Another object is to provide a device of the abovementioned nature which will be light, neat and attractive in appearance, and yet strong and durable. Another object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned nature which may be produced at low cost, in which individual parts are of speedy and inexpensive manufacture and in. which the assembly is simple and inexpensive. Another object is to provide a handle construction particularly for incorporation in devices of the above-mentioned character that will be light, inexpensive, strong, and capable of variety in ornamentation without detracting from its mechanical efficiency. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea tures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which several of the various possible embodiments of certain features of my invention are shown,

Figure l is a side elevation of the device in that form of its assembly in which it is capable of one kind of use and in which it is intended to be carried or stored away, as in a pocket or the like;

Figure 2 is -a side elevation of the device in another possible assemblage thereof in which it is intended for another type of use;

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views as seen along the lines 33 and 4-4, respective- 1y, of Figure 2;

50 Figure 5 is a development of a part of the handle construction shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view along the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a side elevation like that of Figure l but showing certain parts in central vertical section, showing a possible modified form of handle construction for the device, and

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional View on an enlarged scale as seen along the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, I first provide a part generally indicated by the reference character It made preferably of a material like steel and having a base or shank portion I l which in cross-section is circular but is tapered as is better shown in Figure 2, the shank l i being preferably of substantial length. That portion of the part it that extends above the shank H is, as is better shown in Figure l, substantially in the form or shape of the letter 8 giving the part and the ultimate complete device a uniqueness and attractiveness of appearance, but the upper hook-shaped end portion E2 of this S-shaped portion is shaped, cast or machined to provide an inside surface I3 which is substantially frusto-conical, for a purpose later described, while the lower hook-like portion M of the S-shaped part is given a broad strong edge l5 (Figure 2), the part M being like a lug spaced from the rear fiat-like or slightly curved face 15 so as to form an elongated and somewhat flattened surface to contact with the top of a crimped bottle cap indicated in broken lines at IS in Figure l, the cap it being of usual and well-known form and usually associated with a bottle ll, the tongue or lug I4 taking under the crimped edge of the bottle cap it, all as shown in Figure 1.

The tapered shank H is formed with a recess or hole [8 that extends along its axis and in which is received the upper straight end or shank portion E9 of a heavy wire member which is given in any suitable way the shape of a helix to form a so-called corkscrew 20. The shank of the screw 28 is anchored in the shank I E in any suitable manner and preferably by radially compressing the metal of the shank l, as by swaging, to cause the shank ll tightly to grip and hold the shank [9 of the corkscrew 20.

Preferably, when effecting this swaging opera-l tion, the swaging tools are appropriately curved to conform the shank l l to true frusto-conical or tapered shape.

0 The shank H of the member or part ll] forms,

may be grasped in the hand when the assembled device I2| is to function as a cap remover, as indicated in Figure l. Preferably the handle member 2| is also tapered at its upper end in order snugly to receive and interfit with the tapered shank II and also uniformly to distribute about the relatively large areas of the contacting tapered surfaces the forces or strain transmitted from the handle 2| to the part II) in the leverlike action involved in prying the cap I6 off of the bottle H.

In this latter action, it will be noted that the elongated somewhat flattened face I5 of the part III contacts the top of the circular cap I6 at or beyond its center and thus provides a suitable fulcrum about which the force manually applied to the handle 2|, the latter thus elongating the lever arm through which such force works, is effective, and at the same time offers a nice seat for engaging the cap I5 to steady preliminary and subsequent engagement of the tongue or lug I4 under the edge of the cap I6 to pry the latter off as the above-described lever action is proceeded with.

To achieve dependable leverage action, the handle 2| is made to be strong even though hollow and light in weight. Preferably the encasing handle 2| is built up of sheet metaland because of certain structural features about to be described, sheet metal of relatively small gage or weight may be employed.

Preferably, I cut and stamp a piece of sheet metal 22 in the form shown in Figure 5; it has a length approximating the length of the ultimate handle 2| and at one end it is wider than at the other. Preferably, the end marginal regions 23 and 24 are left plane and the intermediate region 25 is given a shape as is better shown in the cross-section of Figure 6, being substantially corrugated in the direction of its length. These corrugations preferably have slightly wider spacings between them at the lefthand end than at the right and may be formed in any suitable manner, preferably by dies in a punch press.

The sheet metal piece 22 of Figure 5 is then rolled up in any suitable manner so as to bring one longitudinal edge 26 into abutting relation to the other longitudinal edge 21, as is better shown in the sectional views of Figures 3 and 4, thereby forming a tube-like structure with plane band-like portions 23 and 24 at its ends.

Over the end band-like portion 23, now in cylindrical or ring-like form, is slipped a sheet metal collar 28 and over the other plane band or ring-like end portion 24, of lesser diameter and circumference than the part 25, is slipped a cap 29. Members 28 and 29 may be made of sheet metal preferably of light weight and are easily and inexpensively manufactured. They are secured to the now tubular or sleeve-like part 22 in any suitable manner. For example, they may be soldered or sweated on. Preferably, however, the parts 28 and 29 are made up of a diameter so proportioned to the diameter of the band-like end parts 23 and 24, respectively, as to form therewith a tight or force fit. Thereby the tapered tubular part 22 is held against unrolling, its edges 26, 21 are held in snug and tight abutting relation, and the resultant assemblage, with its ends, particularly the open end which receives the tapered shank II, reinforced, and there results a tube-like screw-encasing handle of great strength, rigidity, and resistance to distortion or bending. Furthermore, this construction is achieved at substantially low cost, the various parts thereof individually being inexpensive and lending themselves to quantity production, while the assemblage is simple, speedy and dependable.

Where the region 25 (Figure 5) is corrugated, the corrugations, aside from giving the ultimate construction a desirable ornamental appearance, add also to the stiffness or rigidity of the already rigid tube-like handle structure.

By utilizing a development as shaped in Figure 5, appropriate to producing a frusto-conical tubular part having a pitch or taper commensurate with the pitch or taper of the shank II of the part III, the production of the handle in the manner above described at the same time achieves a properly tapered seat or recess for proper interfitting with the tapered shank II.

Furthermore, the ring or band member 28 aids not only in retaining this appropriately tapered seat in that it prevents distortion of the open end of the tube-like casing handle structure, but also is effective in distributing to the tapered or frusto-conical tube-like part 22 the strains resulting from the reaction of the tapered shank II as the assembled parts I|l2| are subjected to the lever action above described.

As above described, the surface I3 of the upper loop or hook of the S-shaped part II! is frustoconical; it is given radii of curvature and a taper corresponding substantially to those that exist at a midsection of the handle structure 2|; thereby, when it is desired to use the corkscrew 20, the tapered handle 2| is simply pulled off of the tapered shank I I and the narrower end (the end with the cap 29, see now Figure 2) is slipped into the hook-shaped upper part I2 of the S- shaped part ID in a direction such that the tapered seat I3 snugly interfits with the tapered midsection of the tube-like part 22.

. As is better shown in Figure 2, the portion I2, in which the tapered seat I3 is formed, is of substantial width, as is also the tapered seat I3 in the direction of its axis. Thereby the forces transmitted from the handle 2| to the part III in effecting a rotation of the corkscrew 20 and in subsequently effecting a pulling of the cork in which the screw part 20 is engaged, are distributed over relatively large contacting areas and such concentrations of pressure or force upon the sheet metal of the part 22 avoided as would dent, deform, or distort the latter. Thereby, also, such denting or deformation of the sheet metal part 22 is prevented as would tend to interlock the part I2 with the handle 2| and as would tend to prevent the ready removal of the latter from the former.

Accordingly, the encasing handle 2| may be easily removed from the portion I2 of the part In and again slipped over the corkscrew 20, which is thus neatly encased, and again fitted onto the tapered shank II. The interfitting of the handle 2| with either of the tapered sets or parts of the member I!) takes place, moreover, with suflicient friction, controllable manually, to insure maintenance of the respective assemblages, either that of Figure 1 or that of Figure 2, to insure their respective functionings.

In Figures '7 and 8 I have shown a possible modified form of casing handle construction, particularly adapted where it is desired to apply to the handle different forms of decoration or even printed matter. As shown in these two figures, a frusto-conical open ended tube-like member is made up of sheet metal of appropriate thickness, preferably from a development shaped like that of Figure 5, with its two longitudinal edges 3| and 32 (see Figure 8) butt-ended when rolled up into the form of a tapered tube.

About the member 30 is wrapped a sheet member 33 of any suitable material. For example, it may be non-metallic sheet material like leather, paper, Celluloid, cellulose product, or the like, and thus may be made up in any appropriate or suitable colors, decoration, design, printed matter, or the like. Preferably, the sheet member 33 is applied to the tube-like member 30 with an appropriate or suitable adhesive interposed therebetween and it is of an axial extent sufficient to fit snugly between the ends of the end ring or band member 34 and the opposite end cap member 35, the latter being, as earlier above described, preferably force fitted onto the respective ends of the member 30. 1

If desired, the band member 34 and the cap member 35 may be provided with outwardly flaring flanges 36 and 31, respectively, which take over the respective ends of the applied sheet member 33, substantially as is shown in Figure 7. In either case, the longitudinal edges of the sheet member 33 may be joined together with a lap joint, but preferably by way of a butt joint, as is shown in Figure 8.

The operation and functioning of the device of Figures '7 and 8 will be clear from what has been set forth above in connection with Figures 1-6.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention an implement or device in which the various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a construction of the character described, in combination, an S-shaped part having depending therefrom a tapered shank, said shank terminating in a corkscrew, and a tube-like screw-encasing handle comprising a piece of sheet metal rolled into tube-like form and held in the latter form by at least one ring-like member encompassing an end thereof, said end receiving said tapered shank so that said tube-like handle encases said corkscrew and forms a lever-like handle for said S-shaped part, one of the hookshaped ends of said S-shaped part being dimensioned to engage a bottle cap, said ring-like member preventing the lever-like action of said handle through said tapered shank from unrolling the sheet metal of said handle, and the other hook-shaped part having an inside radius of curvature appropriate to receive therethrough said handle when detached from said tapered shank.

2. In a construction of the character described, in combination, an S-shaped part having depending therefrom a tapered shank, said shank terminating in a corkscrew, and a screw-encasing handle comprising a piece of sheet metal rolled into frusto-conical tube-like form with its longitudinal edges butt-ended and held against separation by a ring member fitted over the larger end thereof and a cap member fitted over the smaller end thereof, the interior of the larger end of said handle having a taper substantially corresponding to that of said shank for detachably receiving the latter therein.

3. A construction. as claimed in claim 2 in which one loop of said S-shaped member is diametered to receive therein said frusto-conical handle upon removal of the latter from said shank.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 2 in which the inside face of one of the loops of said S-shaped member is frusto-conical and substantially matches a midsection of said handle to receive the latter when removed from said tapered shank.

5. In a construction of the character described, in combination, a part having a tapered shank above which eXtends a loop, said tapered shank having extending therefrom a corkscrew, and a screw-encasing handle comprising a sheet member rolled into frusto-conical tubular form and butt-ended and dimensioned to receive said tapered shank into its larger end, with a band member over said larger end and a cap member over the smaller end thereof to prevent said sheet member from deforming out of its butt-ended relation, said loop being dimensioned to permit said cap member to pass therethrough but not said band member.

6. In a construction of the character described, in combination, an implement having a tapered shank and a handle therefor comprising a sheet metal member rolled into frusto-conical form with its longitudinal edges contacting, and band members force-fitted over the respective ends of said frusto-conical tubular member to hold said longitudinal edges against disengagement, the larger end of said member having a taper corresponding to that of said tapered shank for receiving the latter.

7. In a construction of the character described, in combination, an implement having a shank, and a handle therefor comprising a sheet metal member rolled into tubular form with its longitudinal edges contacting and of an inside diameter at at least one end thereof sufficient to receive therein said shank, said tubular sheet metal member being corrugated excepting at its respective end portions, thereby to provide substantially smooth annular seats at said respective end portions, and band members at and about the respective ends of said tubular handle and closely fitted to said seats to maintain said sheet member in said tubular form and with its longitudinal edges contacting as aforesaid.

8. In a construction of the character described, in combination, an implement having a shank, and a handle therefor comprising a sheet metal member rolled into tubular form with its longitudinal edges contacting and of an inside diameter at at least one end there-of sufiicient to receive therein said shank, a covering material over said tubular sheet metal member, the latter acting as a base to support said material, and a ring-like member encompassing that end of said sheet metal member into which said shank is receivable to prevent the lever-like action of said handle when said shank is received in said end thereof from unrolling the sheet metal of said handle and from splitting said covering material.

KNUD KN'UDSEN. 

